Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
• Estimating your start-up costs will help you answer this question.
• Start-up costs are costs incurred in setting up a new venture.
• It may vary depending on the industry and the type of business
Nine categories of Financing needed in new ventures
1. Security Deposits
Lease deposits and utility deposits are common forms of security
deposits. If you are renting a building for your new venture, you will be
required to place a lease deposit with the landlord (usually amounting to
two months rent).
On the contrary, if you purchase the building instead, at least 10 percent
of its price is required as a down payment for the purchase.
In addition, utility service providers (electricity, water, telephone and so
forth) also require you to put up deposits before service is connected
2. Machinery and Equipment
Depending on the type of business, the list of equipment required may
vary.
Computers, cash registers, fax machines and manufacturing machineries
are some of the equipment a new company may need to invest in.
3. Office Space
Regardless of whether a property is leased or purchased,
renovations may still be needed.
You might need to build walls, add doors, build windows, add
cubicles, do paint jobs and so forth. In addition, you need to furnish
the office space with at least desks, chairs, cabinets, shelves and so
on.
Obviously, all these do not come free. Estimates for renovation,
furnitures and fixtures can be obtained from the respective
contractors and retailers to help determine the associated costs.
4. Inventory
Inventories can consist of raw materials required for production or
finished products that you will buy and resell to customers.
Having inventory in hand is needed to assist businesses to keep up
with orders.
Estimates of this cost can be obtained from the suppliers of these
items.
5. Licenses, Fees and Permits
Starting a new establishment involves name registration, applying
for business licence, health permit and so forth.
In India, new business registrations will cost from 6999 to 36000
depends on its capital investment.
On the other hand, fees and permits varies according to the type of
business.
6. Professional Fees
When starting off a new business, most entrepreneurs would seek
the services or advice of professionals. For example, legal help will
be roped in for advice on legal aspects of setting up a business.
Consultants are hired to facilitate the setting up of their business
operations or to conduct market research to determine the viability
of their business idea.
These expenses must also be taken into consideration.
7. Advertising Expenses
People must be informed about a new start-up. This can be
achieved through proper advertising programme.
Realistic cost estimates must be made based on the advertising
programme, the frequency, the screening timing, and the media
used.
8. Working Capital
It usually takes some time before a business venture can establish a
reasonably good customer base.
During this time, the income flow is not sufficient to cover the
operational cost such as paying wages.
Therefore, working capital is needed to serve as a cash reserve to
pay for operational expenses until the income flow improves and is
able to cover business expenses. The working capital amount should
be able to cover at least 3 to 6 months of expenses.
9. Unanticipated Expenses
It is not possible to predict the future accurately.
Therefore, new start ups need to have a cash reservoir for
unanticipated expenses that may arise during business
operations.
Experts suggest that it would be good to have an allocation of
approximately 10 to 30 percent of total cost for unplanned
expenses.
Sources of capital
Debt Financing
Debt financing is financing that must be paid back with interest. It is stated
as a liability in a company’s balance sheet.
1.Bank Loans
The commercial banking system is always relied upon as a source of
credit for small businesses. Short-term loan such as commercial loans
and line of credit, and longer term loans such as instalment loans are but
some of the products available for business funding.
When giving out loans, banks tend to rely upon provisions for instance,
whether there is a market for the business, the value of the
collateral, the credit record of the applicant, the ability of the business
to repay the loan, the knowledge and capability of the business owner or
manager, and of course the macro factors such as the general economic
situation of the country
2. Government Financing Programmes
The government has a variety of financing programmes for
small businesses. The range of financial assistance rendered
aims to help SMEs improve their workforce, develop
products or technology, promote their product or services
and restructure their debts.
3. Finance Companies
Commercial finance companies are an alternative source of
debt financing when loan applications of new ventures are
rejected by commercial banks. Finance companies are
primarily interested in financing high risk business ventures
and tend to charge higher interest rates as compared to
commercial banks.
4. Other Sources of Debt Financing
There are several other options for debt financing which are not
very popular. However, they may also be considered in times of
need. For example, there are asset based lenders who are willing
to provide loans to entrepreneurs with a condition that idle assets
such as inventory or accounts receivables to be pledged as
collaterals.
Trade credit is another option with which entrepreneurs can
extend their credit in the form of delayed payment. Entrepreneurs
can also turn to insurance companies, stock brokerage
houses, or credit unions for loans.
Equity Financing
Equity financing is obtained through investment made by investors
in exchange for ownership. Unlike debt financing, it does not
have to be paid back with interest. Instead, investors receive
dividends based on the company’s performance. Equity capital is
also referred to as risk capital because the investors bear the risk
of losing their investment if the business fails
1.Personal savings
Personal savings is a common form of equity financing and is
usually the first place entrepreneurs look for funding. In fact,
most investors and lenders would expect to see
entrepreneurs devote some of their own money to the
business before investing theirs.
2. Private Investors
Friends and family members are often more than willing to come
forward to provide financial assistance. However, it is important to
take note that failed business ventures may strain these relationships.
It is always better to settle the details up front, create a written
contract, and prepare a payment schedule that should go well with
both parties.
3. Angel investors
Angels are another form of private investors. These wealthy
individuals back up emerging entrepreneurial ventures with their
own money and harbour hopes of earning high profits when the
ventures become successful. The only challenge is finding them.
Here, networks of resourceful contacts play an important role.
3.Partners
Forming partnerships allow accumulation of additional resources.
Entrepreneurs who come together as partners will pledge to jointly
contribute to their venture in terms of funding, knowledge or
activities and share the risks and rewards of running a business.
There are active partners and sleeping partners. two types of
partners
(i) Active partners are dynamically involved in managing the
business and have unlimited liability, meaning that their
personal assets are subject to attachment and liquidation to pay
for the business debts.
(ii) Sleeping partners (also known as silent partners) contribute
capital for a business but relinquish any management
responsibility, and unlike active partners, sleeping partners
shares of losses are limited to the amount of their invested
capital.
4. Venture Capital Firms
Venture capital firms are companies that invest money in small
businesses operating in particular industries, in which they are
familiar with and have high growth and profit potentials.
Venture capital firms also look for business with competent
management and competitive edge. In return, they expect a
significant ownership interest in the business, which is typically 20 to
40 percent of a company.
5. Public Stock Sales
A company can also raise capital by selling shares of its stock to the
public. Stock sales can be public (stocks sold to everyone through the
stock market) or private (stocks sold to specific individuals). Going
public paves the path for large amount of capital. However, the
founder must be prepared to accept dilution of ownership and loss of
control.
Other Methods
Below are the other sources of funding.
(a) Factoring
In most cases, a company’s cash is trapped in the form of accounts
receivable-credit extended to customers for purchases made.
These are assets as the money will be received in the future.
Factoring involves the selling of account receivables at a lower price
than the face value of the account.
(b) Leasing
Purchasing assets such as equipment or machinery are expensive and
most new start-ups may not have the necessary funds to do so.
Therefore, new start-ups can resort to leasing these assets at the initial
stages to reduce the need for additional funding. In analogy, this is
similar to finding a house to live in. If you cannot afford to purchase a
house, you can rent one instead.
(c) Credit cards
Small businesses also rely on credit cards to finance their business. It
is becoming a popular alternative as credit card companies are
usually not concerned about how you spend your money, as long as
the bills are settled.
Angel Investors
An angel investor is an individual who provides capital for a business
start-up, in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. The
capital provided by Angel Investors may be a one-time investment, or it
may fund money during initial stage to support and carry the company
through its early stages.
Advantages of Angel Investors
1. Availability of Funding - Angel Investors bear high risks and
provide funding to new avenues. They invest their funds, unlike others.
One can get loans from angel investors when banks and other financial
institutions are not ready to offer a loan.
2. Flexibility - Banks and financial institutions are very strict about the
criteria that the companies have to meet to obtain a loan. But Angel
Investors are more flexible
3. Expertise and Contacts- Apart from providing funds, angel
investors also provides business expertise and contacts for a startup
firm.
4. Better Success Rate- The firms which got funding from angel
investors have higher survival rates, faster growth rates as compared
with others.
Disadvantages of Angel Investors
1. Investor Expectations - Angels take more risk while
investing money and they expect high returns on their
investments. They expect profits around ten times of their initial
investment.
2. Loss of Control - After the investment in a business, angel
investors almost become part-owners of a business. They have
some control over the business, and they have their influence
on the strategic decisions. So the entrepreneur will feel that
there is a loss of control over the business.
3. Limited Funds - After the initial investment in the
business, the angel investor will not fund again until the
company shows strong profitability.